JOURNAL OF MAINK ORNITHOLOGICAL vSOCIETY. 87 



dard magazine of western ornithology it should prove worth reading 

 in many sections of the east. The Condor for July-August comes to 

 hand just as the Journal goes to press. It has the usual amount 

 of interesting and valuable information about western birds. 



The Bulletin of the Buffalo Society of Natural 

 Sciences. — Volume IX, No. 2, of the Bulletin of the Buffalo Society 

 of Natural Sciences has a half-tone illustration of a group of Whist- 

 ling Swans, mounted for the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, and 

 now displayed with its collections. These were some of the birds 

 taken at Niagara Falls in March, 1908, when they dropped ex- 

 hausted and hungry, and many were carried over the horseshoe 

 fall to their destruction. It is estimated that over one hundred of 

 the flock met death at that time in the manner described. There is 

 a fine article, with good illustrations, on the American Woodcock, 

 by Ottoman Reinecke, of Buffalo. The rest of this very creditable 

 publication is devoted to insects and shells, with a report of the 

 annual meeting of the Society. 



The Biota of the San Bernardino Mountains. — One of 

 the latest publications of the University of California is the Biota of 

 the San Bernardino Mojintains, by Joseph Grinnell. Dr. Grinnell 

 is the leading authority in this department in the west, and the 

 publication is therefore of the highest value. The San Bernardino 

 Mountains proper constitute the largest high mountain group in 

 southern California, and include the highest peak of Mt. Whitney. 

 The forested area is more extensive than elsewhere in southern Cali- 

 fornia, and furnishes a more abundant fauna. There is a descrip- 

 tion of the life zones of the region and of the localities, with special 

 reference to the faunal complexion of each place. The plants of the 

 region, as well as the mammals and reptiles, are fully described. 

 More space is given to the birds than to any other part of the fauna. 

 A list of one hundred and thirty-nine species was found in the 

 region, and a detailed record of distribution is given in each case, 

 with extended biographical accounts of many species, and critical 

 notes on others. The volume is handsomely illustrated with half- 



